Shoe



Dec. 12, 19.39. M. B. FLYNN Er AL SHOE Filed June 4, 1938 Patented Dec, 1 2, 1939 TENT orties sHoE Mortimer B.

Flynn and John L. oobb, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 4, 1938, Serial No. 211,766

1 Claim.

This invention relates to footwear such as boots and shoes and more particularly to a boot or shoe embodying a semi-floating iiexible arch support. While it is the purpose of the present invention to build a shoe provided with the arch support it is entirely possible that the said support may be made separately and applied to the shoe at any time during the life of the same.

Shoe comfort, walking comfort and foot comfort while wearing a shoe for any purpose are dependent upon a number of factors. A normal foot in which the bone s'tructure is in proper alignment is very desirable but even in this all too rare condition considerable discomfort may be experienced in ordinary shoes in walking upon uneven, irregular, glassy smooth and like walking surfaces difficult to navigate. Proper support of the bone structure of the foot in sports activities, athletics, and in ordinary walking is also most desirable at all times. Much more so is such support necessary to those having weak or fallen arches, or other defects in the bone structure of the foot and it is the prime purpose of the present invention to so support the foot at all times that foot strain, 'jolts and jars incident to bodily activities or other causes may be absorbed or so distributed as to avoid slipping, rotation or sliding of the heel, undue muscle strain, or that which may produce or lead to injury of a more or less serious or permanent nature.

A further object of the invention is to pro- Vide within the shoe proper a cradle support for the inner longitudinal arch of the foot and for the heel in substantially the form of a suspensory that is movable toward and away from-the inner sole-of the shoe in an air chamber in the shoe that serves not only to support the foot and prevent slipping but that cushions the same in a gentle but eflicient manner pr-eventing turning of the ankle and other strains, providing muscle control at all times and a proper distribution of weight over the bony and muscular structure of the foot.

Somewhat more specifically the invention provides an auxiliary support that is secured along its outer longitudinal edge to the corresponding edge of the shoe insole and that has a tilting or oscillatory movement about said longitudinal outer edges toward and away from the conventional inner shoe sole.

Means for tightening, more or less, this suspensory to the foot and for anchoring it to the shoe are also provided.

In the accompanying drawing- (Cl. Sii-71) Fig. 1 is a plan View of thel cradle, the xed left shoe sole being denoted in dotted lines as also is the line of stitching securing said members together. n

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the right shoe proper, the cradle being shown in elevation and the foot in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of Fig. 2 but of a left shoe, the toe being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout.

The reference numeral I denotes the conventional insole of an ordinary shoe 2 of the Oxford type. The outer wing 3 of the left shoe upper is formed with a somewhat elongated perforation 4 preferably located slightly below the eyelet 5 second from the top. An adjustable semiiioating supporter or cradle having a body portion 6 of substantially the same shape, though shorter, than the insole I is formed or provided with a laterally extending tongue or strap 'I formed with perforations B, said tongue eXtendu ing from the inner longitudinal edge of the body 6, the cradles being formed in rights and lefts so that said tongue is always disposed upon the inner edge of the body 6.

The cradle has its outer longitudinal edge applied and secured to the corresponding edge of the insole I, the heel ends being aligned also, said edg-es and substantially one half portion of said heels being sewed together by a line of stitching I3 or otherwise, secured together; or the outer longitudinal edge of the cradle and substantially one half of the heel portion may be folded about and secured to the corresponding portions of the insole I before the same is cemented to the shoe at the factory. The body portion of the cradle may now be tilted or oscillated `about its outer longitudinal edge by the strap or tongue 1.

In use the foot is inserted in the shoe upon the cradle with the strap passing over the instep of the foot and through the perforationA 4 and then brought back once more across the instep of the foot, over the tongue I0 in both instances, and through the buckle II secured to the outer surface of the shoe upper, said buckle serving to retain the tongue adjustably in position.

When the foot is disposed in the shoe it will be noted that an air chamber I2 is formed in the shoe between the cradle, the insole I and the outer wing I3 of the left shoe upper. Tightening the foot the flexibility of the material provides' for a compensating cushioning adjustment that absorbs shocks.

What is claimed is:

In a shoe having a heel, insole and upper, means constructed and arranged to exert an up- Ward and outward pull upon and to support the longitudinal or inner arch and the heel of the foot, said means consisting of a foot support extending from the ball line rearwardly to the heel end of the insole and having its outer 1ongitudinal edge and substantially the outer half of its heel edge secured to corresponding edges of the insole, an extension on the inner longitudinal edge of the foot support ending in a strap portion extending across the top of the shoe at the inner surface thereof, then through the upper, and means on the exterior of the shoe for adjustably securing the end of the said strap portion.

MORTIMER B. FLYNN.

JOHN L. COBB. 

